David S. Richards

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire

Date/Time of Incident:
Wednesday, July 2, 1879
10:00 am

Incident to Death Duration:
42 years, 185 days

Incident Location:
Fall Creek Parkway and Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis

Incident County:
Marion

Incident Township:
Center

Weapon Used:
Revolver

Suspect Disposition:
• Pardoned in 1881
• Sentenced to 30 days
• Sentenced to 6 months

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Officer
David S. Richards
Indianapolis Police Department
Tuesday, January 3, 1922

Panel 52E, Line 29 (2016)

Panel L2, Line 14 (2016)

Officer David Richards died as the result of a complication of a gunshot wound suffered 42½ years earlier.

He was searching for a gang of horse thieves with two other officers when they interrupted an unrelated gang of four burglars who were dividing the spoils of their crime. The men opened fire and Officer Richards was shot in the left foot during the ensuing gunbattle but survived.

He was able to return to duty but was medically retired in 1911 due to continued pain and medical issues with his foot and leg. On January 1, 1922, his foot was amputated and he died two days later from complications at Joseph Eastman Hospital.

All four suspects were eventually apprehended. The shooter was later sentenced to two years in prison and in 1881, Governor Albert G. Porter granted him a pardon. The other men were sentenced from 30 days to six months in jail.

Officer Richards was widowed and survived by his daughter and two sons.

Historical Notes

• Officer Richards is the oldest known officer killed in the line of duty in Indiana.

• He is the longest serving known officer killed in the line of duty in Indiana.

• Officer Richards has the longest incident to line of duty death duration in Indiana.
• He also has the sixth-longest incident to line of duty death duration in the United States.

The responsibilities of the Indianapolis Police Department (1854–2006) are now under the jurisdiction of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Personal Details

Age: 75

Law Enforcement Service:
39 years, 9 months

Badge #: 75

Burial Place:
Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis

• Officer Richards is the oldest known officer killed in the line of duty in Indiana.

• He is the longest serving known officer killed in the line of duty in Indiana.

• Officer Richards has the longest incident to line of duty death duration in Indiana.• He also has the sixth-longest incident to line of duty death duration in the United States.

The responsibilities of the Indianapolis Police Department (1854–2006) are now under the jurisdiction of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

• Officer Richards has the longest incident to line of duty death duration in Indiana.
• He also has the sixth-longest incident to line of duty death duration in the United States.